PM condemns Israel's Qatar bombing - Herzog meeting today

Sir Keir Starmer made the comments at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA) House of Commons/UK Parliament

Sir Keir Starmer will tell Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday that Britain condemns Israel's bombing of Hamas leaders in Qatar. The Prime Minister said he will make it "absolutely clear" during their Downing Street meeting "that we condemn Israel's action".

Starmer told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions that he will also demand "restrictions on aid must be lifted, the offensive in Gaza must stop, and settlement building must cease". The meeting had already sparked controversy before Israel's military action on Tuesday.

Starmer condemns Qatar strikes

Speaking at PMQs, Starmer said: "I condemn the strikes that Israel carried out in Doha yesterday. They violate Qatar's sovereignty, they do nothing to secure the peace that the UK and so many of our allies are committed to."

Israeli forces targeted top Hamas figures in Doha as they gathered to discuss a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza. The strike on a US ally's soil drew widespread international condemnation and risks derailing diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Starmer spoke to Qatar's Emir immediately after the attack to convey British support and solidarity. He said the Emir remained "crystal clear that notwithstanding the attacks, he will continue to work on a diplomatic solution to achieve a ceasefire and a two-state outcome".

Meeting draws fierce criticism

The SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn criticised Starmer for hosting Herzog, saying: "What does it say of this Prime Minister that he will harbour this man whilst children starve?" Flynn described Herzog as "the man who called for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people".

Starmer defended his diplomatic approach, saying Britain had already suspended arms sales to Gaza, sanctioned extremists and suspended trade talks with Israel. He rejected calls to abandon diplomacy as "the politics of students".

Diplomatic efforts continue

The Prime Minister said he met Palestinian President Abbas on Monday and emphasised that diplomatic engagement remained essential. He said: "However difficult, the UK will not walk away from a diplomatic solution. We will negotiate and we will strain every sinew, because that is the only way to get the hostages out, to get aid in."

Starmer stressed that a two-state solution was "the only way we will get peace in a region that has suffered conflict for a very, very long time". The meeting comes as Israel's intensifying incursion on Gaza City compounds civilian suffering and sparks international anger.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.